DOUBLE UPDATE! – BE SURE TO READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER!

Chapter One-Hundred-and-Seventeen; Clearwater Cousins

Before Haymitch could stop them the medic had swiftly jabbed the needle into Stephanie's arm and Stephanie felt as though she had just been pulled from underwater.

Everything rushed in on her at once until Stephanie's eyes were rolling into the back of her skull.

But the injected serum would not allow her to faint and Stephanie groaned as her stomach retched violently when her heart began to beat too fast.

Haymitch was just in time to hastily grasp back Stephanie's hair as she sat up abruptly and heaved her breakfast into the disposable container that had been hurriedly shoved into her lap.

Stephanie felt the terror crash over her then, pulsing from every pore in her body. Would that be what it felt like in the arena? To feel every last breath wrung out of her while she flailed helplessly? Would that be what it felt like to die?

A hysterical notion to burst out laughing bubbled up in Stephanie; she had nearly been killed and she hadn't fainted. That was twice in one day she had fended off fainting, why did she need Seneca's help at all? But Stephanie halted her racing manic thoughts, trying to take calming deep breaths.

The Capitolites surrounding her small bed were shooting her disgusted glances at her generally haggard appearance however Stephanie only permitted brushing her teeth and cleaning her mouth out. She didn't want them to fix her up again; to paint her up as a Capitol doll and force her to wear a mask as though everything was fine.

Why had Slena attacked her? – Her cousin; Slena had said Stephanie killed her cousin. But that made absolutely no sense? And why was Ficen involved yet again?!

Stephanie raked a shaking hand through her hair as Haymitch helped her sit up properly and swing her legs over the bed.

She grimaced and felt her stomach roil when she noted the blood now caked under her broken fingernails; she didn't know if it was her own or Slena's from clawing at Slena's fingers wrapped round her neck, but Stephanie's hands were blotted with it; bloodstains that looked like browning rust etched into her skin.

"Sweetheart?" Haymitch rasped and Stephanie's head snapped up.

She looked into Haymitch's worried eyes and she wanted nothing more to crawl into his lap and throw her arms around his shoulders; for him to hold her and soothe her.

Stephanie swallowed down the lump in her throat as she barely restrained herself from doing just that; what would be so bad if the Capitol suddenly knew about her and Haymitch? Her thoughts demanded bitterly.

But even in her state of despair her brain provided the reasons why it would be a bad idea instantly; because the last thing they needed right now was another scandal focused on her, because the Capitol would exploit it and twist it to their own amusement, because she feared what Seneca would do if he was given this confirmation.

The medic examined Stephanie then, applying something that would ease the bruises already blooming around her throat like a perverse necklace.

When her examination was over they waited for what Stephanie didn't know. She wondered where Slena was now? What was happening to her? Stephanie even wondered about her date with Dan that she was meant to be currently at – the date that Seneca had planned to use as a cover to take her to a secret facility.

What would happen now?

Stephanie jolted as the sound of an approaching commotion sounded nearby and Stephanie gritted her teeth; she didn't know how much more she could take and with the serum still pumping around her body it was impossible for her to faint and find respite in oblivion.

Whatever happened, whatever would occur she would be forced to witness it all.

She saw Haymitch tense where he was in the chair facing her as someone made a general commotion about being let in to see her.

Stephanie grimaced, imaging it to be some overzealous reporters.

But when the doors burst inward and the medical team all threw disapproving looks towards the culprit it was Dan who stood in the threshold of the door.

His immaculate wavy hair was perfectly tousled as though he had run his hands through it worriedly and his green eyes shone with tears. "Darling!" he cried before he flew over to her. He flung himself onto the bed beside her gathering her in his arms and peppering kisses across her head.

And Stephanie felt resentment burn in her mouth like bile; she almost felt like being sick again. She knew it was part of the act that Dan was keeping up; the Flickerman's were all perfect actors afterall. And Dan had certainly seemed to excel at improvisation; his response to news of an attack on her was almost believably heartbroken.

But it just felt so unbearably…cruel as she caught Haymitch's intent gaze over Dan's shoulder, knowing that Haymitch couldn't hold her now like Dan was, not in front of all these Capitolites.

"I can't believe it darling," Dan rushed, "the poor girl must have been jealous of you," he added rubbing his hand along her back.

But his touch only made her shudder and his words made her want to slap him for being so damn flippant.

Stephanie didn't imagine she knew Slena that well but she thought she knew the measure of the girl enough to know that Slena wouldn't attack her because she was jealous or anything as silly as that.

Stephanie had killer Slena's cousin? – Stephanie couldn't begin to comprehend how Slena had somehow conjured up something as completely far-fetched as that.

However what she did know was that Slena believed it and that thought was enough to make her uneasy as she remembered the burning hatred in Slena's gaze.

Haymitch stood abruptly striding a few lengths away from them, his jaw clenched so tightly it seemed his teeth would shatter. It seemed he could no longer bear sitting calmly by and watching the sight of Dan clutching Stephanie to himself.

Stephanie subtly elbowed Dan in the ribs as continued to sob dramatically on her shoulder. She was in no mood to play Dan's leading lady in his self-made drama.

"Give us some privacy."

At Haymitch's gruff order the room emptied swiftly until only Haymitch, Stephanie and Dan were left in it.

Dan's routine per usual ended the moment he was no longer in front of a crowd as he leaned back from Stephanie, dabbing at the tears pearled in his sea green eyes.

Stephanie barely waited until the door was closed before she leapt to her feet. She swayed unsteadily at the rapid movement and without a second thought she kicked the heels off feeling slightly less unstable.

Dan gave a snort of amusement but Stephanie ignored it as she moved across the room and in a split second she was in Haymitch's arms.

"Oh don't mind me, I'm just the poor Capitol lover," Dan drawled smugly, but he was ignored by both Stephanie and Haymitch.

After a few moments Haymitch slid his hands from around Stephanie's waist to grasp her upper arms as he held her out from him. Haymitch studied her face, taking in Stephanie's haggard appearance.

The silent question in his eyes prompted Stephanie.

"I'm fine Haymitch," Stephanie mumbled but Haymitch shot her a candid look and Stephanie sighed.

"Okay I'm not fine," Stephanie relented as she tugged her fingers through her tangled hair, "I doubt I ever will be again," she confessed in a smaller voice.

Haymitch said nothing but he pulled Stephanie close and pressed a firm kiss to her hair as Stephanie breathed in his familiar scent.

"You know I was sure something was going on between you two," Dan's voice sounded from behind them again, a smugly victorious tone to it now as he rambled on complacently, "it wasn't very hard to spot of course; what from him always looking like he wanted to dissect me every time I touched you and you always looking over at him with those big eyes. You know – "

Dan trailed off when he realised the scalding glares he was attracting and he hurried to amend his mistake, "look it matters little to me what the hell is going on between you two that the President's son is involved and I want nothing to do with it either," Dan said throwing himself down carelessly on a chair and propping his feet up on the bed while Stephanie scoffed.

Dan rolled his eyes as he produced a newspaper from somewhere and snapped it open in front of him, continuing to grumble behind it, "I have enough problems of my own without getting mixed up in whatever trouble you're in. It wasn't my choice to –"

"It can't be…"

Both Haymitch and Dan snapped their gazes to Stephanie as the horrified whisper left her lips.

"Stephanie?" Haymitch called.

Stephanie stood unnaturally still, her wide-eyed gaze locked on something as the colour leached from her face.

Haymitch followed her line of site and his expression smoothed immediately to one of grimness as he saw it too.

Dan squawked in his chair as their two gazes fell on him, "w-what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?!"

Haymitch moved swiftly across the room and Dan curled up reflexively in his chair with a yelp as Haymitch reached him.

However Haymitch merely snatched the newspaper from him, folding it to smooth out the rumpled front page as Stephanie appeared at his elbow, looking paler than ever.

Stephanie's eyes scanned the paper frantically, desperately hoping that she had been mistaken in what she saw – but she wasn't.

The headline was stark against the crisp whiteness of the page…

Veteran reporter of The Eyes of the Capitol Fas Clearwater found dead!

Stephanie stared in mute disbelieving shock, unable to process what she was reading, only able to see the photograph of Fas grinning up at her, his pale blue eyes watching her over his thick-rimmed spectacles.

Haymitch scanned swiftly down the rest of the page but the article was vague and unhelpful; more gossip than fact. All that was irrefutably clear was that Fas Clearwater was dead with yet no apparent cause, found that morning in his apartment.

"Oh that's what you wanted," Dan breathed in obvious relief as he straightened in his chair.

Stephanie trudged silently by Haymitch to collapse gratefully on the bed, feeling utterly drained. She clutched a hand to her chest with a wince feeling her heart-rate pick up again but she ignored it as thoughts raced through her head uncomprehendingly.

"What's the local gossip on this?" Haymitch shoved the paper towards Dan who frowned but knew better than to voice his disgruntlement.

Dan took the paper from Haymitch, flicking his sea green eyes over the front page.

"Fas Clearwater is dead," Dan said with a shrug.

Haymitch shot him a hard look and Dan sighed exasperated with an exaggerated eye roll.

"He was a sleaze reporter – calling out affairs and things; it hardly made him the most popular person! Damn sneak near ratted me out only I got away before he caught any pictures!" Dan exclaimed emphatically.

Stephanie fixed Dan with a deeply suspicious look then which Dan scoffed laughingly at, "don't be the fool the Capitolites think you district dwellers are. I didn't kill him," Dan told her condescendingly, "though I don't know why on earth you are so upset that he is dead," Dan added as his brows drew together in puzzlement.

"So the general word is it was a murder?" Haymitch discerned, though there was no doubt in his mind.

"Well how many people do you know who take poison in their morning coffee," Dan said with a callous smirk, "but that of course is just one of the rumours circulating."

Haymitch looked across at Stephanie who was sitting on the bed, her shoulders hunched as her eyed burned with supressed thoughts; he could almost hear her mind whirring like one of the machines back in the factories of District 3.

"Fas never was very popular – not after his uncle's indiscretion," Dan continued on meaningfully.

Stephanie looked up at Haymitch and saw reflected the dawning comprehension in Haymitch's eyes as the pieces began to click into place and at Dan's next words the confirmation was complete.

"Fas's uncle married a District girl – quite the scandal even if she was a Victor," Dan chuckled before he continued, "I think the girl was from – "

"District 4," Stephanie finished quietly as she closed her eyes feeling the serum work doubly as hard to keep her alert.

Fas and Slena were cousins.

And so much suddenly made sense to Stephanie; Fas's uncle had married a District 4 Victor and they went on to have a child – Slena Clearwater.

And whether by simple bad luck like Stephanie getting reaped on her last year or whether something more calculated was at work like the Thorne twins – Astara and Tain both being reaped; Stephanie didn't know though she suspected it was the latter. But somehow Slena Clearwater had been reaped for the Hunger Games.

Stephanie didn't know how Slena discovered about her relatives here in the Capitol or if she had always known.

Stephanie sighed as Fas's words in the car suddenly made sense; it had been Slena he was trying to get the arena secrets for, Slena was the conflicting issue that meant he couldn't be friends with Stephanie. For how could he help Stephanie when to do so would hinder Slena, his own cousin.

It was Fas Dess had threatened to kill that had made Slena break down so completely in the Chandelier Rooms.

And Stephanie's breath hitched as that last thought occurred to her; threatened to kill.

Who had killed Fas? – Why was Fas dead? – And why did Slena believe that Stephanie was responsible?

Stephanie raked her hands through her wild hair as she felt tears brim her eyes. She had no idea whom she was crying for; if it was for Fas or Slena or both. All she knew was that Fas had been only trying to help his cousin and now he was dead.

Stephanie didn't know why but as she sniffed back her tears with an air of determinacy she had a fair idea who did know.

However before she could open her mouth to speak Dan jumped with a high-pitched shriek as a demanding ring tore through the room.

Haymitch's gaze snapped to Dan knowingly as Dan gingerly took a ringing phone from his pocket, cringing.

Dan grimaced as he peeked at the caller ID, "it's him," he squeaked to Haymitch and Stephanie didn't need a second guess to know that Dan meant Seneca.

The ringing continued for a second more before cutting off abruptly leaving a tense silence until a beep sounded.

Dan groaning miserably, looked to the phone, reading the message.

"He's up in the private box – he wants to know what has happened," Dan relayed.

"Well then go up and tell him," Haymitch snarled, "and you can also inform him that the plan is off – Stephanie won't be going anywhere but back to the penthouse now."

Dan gaped at Haymitch openly, "y-you want me to tell him that!"

Haymitch shot Dan an uncompromising dark look and with a defeated whine Dan got to his feet, tramping resignedly over to the door.

"If I end up like Fas it's all your fault," Dan griped wretchedly but he was ignored as he pulled open the doors, the guards outside immediately standing upright.

Stephanie got to her feet at that moment as she swallowed resolutely and Haymitch threw her a curious look.

"You there!" Stephanie called as she pointed at a bespeckled woman with short lilac hair that had been passing the door just as Dan disappeared from sight.

The woman whirled startled, her eyes wide behind her turquoise glasses with surprise and clearly a little affronted at the idea of being so brazenly addressed by a district tribute.

"Yes?" the woman inquired politely but with a clipped edge to her tone.

Stephanie attempted to look bashful or at least embarrassed as she pushed some knotted brunette behind her ear.

"I was wondering if you could perhaps get someone for me," Stephanie began and the look of offence grew on the woman's face. Haymitch's look of baffled incredulity also increased as he prepared to interrupt before Stephanie could insult the Capitol woman anymore.

"I was hoping you could get my stylist to come down here – Ficen," Stephanie added and the look of offence on the woman's face vanished immediately.

The woman with lilac hair nodded as she looked to Stephanie and her haggard appearance pitifully, "of course," the woman agreed as she looked Stephanie up and down again. There was even a glimpse of condescending pride in the woman's bespeckled eyes that the Capitol had cultured a tribute enough to care about their appearance.

Haymitch's expression had smoothed now with comprehension as he no longer tried to stop Stephanie.

The woman nodded with another patronising smile, "I'll go fetch Ficen presently and don't worry I'll make sure as few people see you in this horrendous state meanwhile," the woman added in what was meant to be a comforting tone.

But Stephanie couldn't find it in herself to be even remotely annoyed by the woman's attitude as the guards shut the door and the woman scuttled off.

Her thoughts were too busy again as Haymitch approached her and caught her gaze pointedly.

Ficen knew something Stephanie was sure of it. Something that she had told Slena that had made Slena attack her. Something that had convinced Slena that Stephanie was responsible for her cousin Fas's death. And Stephanie was going to find out what.

DOUBLE UPDATE!

Thanks to new follows and to all those that continue to read. Also especial thanks to girlworthfightingfor for the review, I hope you continue to enjoy! :D